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The Himmelright Family of MN, NE, IL, IN, PA, OHUpdated November 9, 2000

About Our Family Research

Many years ago, my grandfather began research into finding our family heritage, with the help of other family members, he compiled data, kept journals of family events, and started collecting photos. Our journey begins with Jacob Himmelright, and Jane Smith, in 1785 in PA. Family stories past down to our family had suggested that Jacob was born in Germany, and that he had went to England as a young man and met Jane, they married, and settled in PA.

Research so far has suggested that they had three sons, Samuel Francis, Henry, and William Jacob Himmelright, nothing solid as to precisely just where they were born. John Himmelright may also be a possible child, his lines have been included on the tree. A distant cousin has suggested that Jacob and Jane also may have had two girls, however, nothing solid in finding them as of yet. Research into this family is very ongoing to track our German heritage. A distant cousin had received a letter from a Himmelright decendant in 1970, that suggested that Jacob and Jane had 15 children altogether.

Henry, John, and Samuel Francis settled in Ohio to have their children, while William Jacob Himmelright, married twice, Amanda Royal and Melvina Day, and brought 15 children into this family, some born in OH, others in IL, NE, and IN. Melvina's lineage traces back to 1626 in England, while Amanda Gustofson, wife of Henry Jefferson, son of William Jacob, line traces back to Sweden. I have some of the second, third, fourth, and a few down to the sixth generations of specific lines in this family.

If you have any questions about dates, please contact me. I am interested in researching and exchanging data with other Himmelright decendants. I would also like to work with other Himmelrights even if the name differential is present, I have found that the Himmelright name has been changed several times just within the families, I have counted over 23 variations in the spellings so far that I have seen on line.

I have now added additional updated information to this tree, that includes more surnames, like Burkmeyer, Runyon, Smith, Jones, Cowen, and many, many other families associated with the Himmelright links. Just click on a name to find the family.

Currently, I am researching OH, and Nebraska, strong in Nebraska as three generations worth of my family were from there. I will going to Kearney in August to research and obtain photos of gravesites located there, specifically William J. Himmelright's grave and others. Looking forward to walking on his land and taking photos as well. William J. Himmelright was my ggg-grandfather.

For those coming down Frank Himmelright's line, Frank Himmelright's wife Heneretta Jones line goes back well into the 1100's, traces back to six Kings and a Queen, the infamous Edward I "Longshanks" King in Braveheart movie, and also her line traces to the MAYFLOWER as well. This has been an exciting discovery for this line.

Surname List, doesn't have all people on tree(124 KB)This list is not complete, I have updated the tree with more surnames than is on the list, see the tree for additional information. View the list
for specific Himmelright names.

Henriette , William, and Ernest Himmelright(14 KB)This is a photo of Henriette Jones Himmelright, son William and son Ernest Himmelright. Henriette was the wife of Frank Himmelright, son of William Jacob Himmelright

The Good Ole Days(55 KB)Lettie wrote on the back of this postcard, that this was the first car she had ever road in. The car belonged to Doc Bush of Kearney Nebraska

Joseph Himmelright and Bill Bush(29 KB)This is a photo of Joseph Himmelright, the son of William J. and Melvina Day,He is on the left in the photo, the other man is Bill Bush, uncle of Lettie Bush Himmelright.

Lettie, four generations photo, holding Kenneth H.(34 KB)This is four generations photo of Lettie holding Kenneth Himmelright, the woman behind her to the left is Ida Boyer-Bush- Himmelright, Joe Himmelright's wife, mother of Lettie. Joe was the stepfather. The other photo is Lettie Bush Himmelright by herself.

The Bush Family Farm of Kearney, Nebraska(74 KB)This is the Bush family Farm of Kearney, Nebraska,
Bill, Jack, and John Bush are in this photo and their family. John Bush is the father of Lettie Bush Himmelright whom married William.